Al Jazeera America says it's building to last

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — As it approaches its first birthday, Al Jazeera America anchor Tony Harris says he's surprised by how good the network is.

The journalistic performance of the network hasn't been reflected by its audience size, though. Viewership remains very low.

But like Harris, network President Kate O'Brian voiced confidence on Tuesday that viewers will catch up with it. She called its corporate parents — the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network — "extremely supportive" and in it for the long run.

Al Jazeera America, which launched on Aug. 20, 2013, has marketed itself as a hard-news and documentary network without a political slant and little interest in fluff.

Harris and O'Brian made the comments during the summer television critics' tour.

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